Colours that pop and unlock

The benefits of contrast

When similar colours are placed together they create a camouflage effect, making things hard to spot or even invisible. Useful if you’re a small prey animal, but when you’re looking for things around the home, it can be incredibly frustrating!

That is where contrast can make all the difference.

Colours that ‘pop’ can unlock everyday items that are otherwise hard to see or interact with. In this guide we’ll show you how bold colours can amplify your every day.

Boldly see, what’s hidden in that draw 

If you’ve ever opened a utensil draw to see one big sea of same, you’ll know that you don’t need to have low vision for colour to challenge your eyesight. Black spoons can hide against dark backgrounds. The microwave keys can all look the same when you’re in a hurry.

Just as adding bold or highlighted text can surface important information, adding bold and contrasting colours to your home is a simple and effective way to make things easier on your eyes.

3 simple ways to dial up the contrast

If you catch yourself squinting more often or taking longer to do daily tasks, contrast can help. Here are three simple ways to add bold contrast in and around your home.

1: Opt for products that use bold or contrasting colours

Colour and design aesthetics play a role in what we choose for our home. But what might look sleek and stylish could also make it challenging to use on a regular basis. For example, a black keyboard with large white letters will be easier to type on than a grey option with silver keys. A TV remote with bold buttons or audio input will make it easier to enjoy your shows without frustration.

2: Consider the role of contrast in your favourite hobbies

As our eyesight shifts over time it can be easy for the things we enjoy the most to feel more challenging. This is another area where contrast can help you adapt much-loved hobbies, rather than avoiding them. For example, using notepads with bolder lines can make writing easier. Opting for a black tennis ball could improve your game. Even changing up the colour of the walls in your home could be all you need to relieve some of the strain on your eyes.

3: Use colour coding in the kitchen

Sugar and salt look the same - a mix-up guaranteed to ruin a great meal! Colour coding in the kitchen can make it easier when you’re cooking up a storm, such as:

• Opting for contrasting containers rather than matching sets
• Using a bold contrasting paint pen or marker to distinguish ingredients of the same colour
• Switching to black measuring cups to see white ingredients like flour, sugar and sugar
• Choosing colour-coded chopping boards to avoid cross-contamination in food prep
• Serving food on white plates to make your meal easier to see (you might also prefer a red-contrasting placemat to a white tablecloth)
• Choosing a contrasting colour for handles on kitchen cupboards and draws